Philips improves on its PERS technology

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8, 2013—At the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Royal Philips Electronics announced the Philips Lifeline GoSafe, a new mobile personal emergency response system (PERS) that is designed to help seniors get more out of life. Philips’ latest innovation provides a unique combination of fall detection capabilities along with a suite of locating technologies and two-way cellular voice communication to help provide users the confidence to continue doing the activities they enjoy knowing they have access to help if they need it.

Building on Lifeline’s more than 38 years of experience in empowering seniors, GoSafe incorporates many of Philips’ trusted features and expands PERS functionality beyond the home, providing users access to the Philips Lifeline Response Center 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Philips Lifeline’s legacy is built around helping seniors age with grace and independence,” said Rob Goudswaard, senior director of Product and Service Programs for Philips Home Monitoring. “Our intention is that GoSafe will provide users with the confidence to get back to activities or go to places they have scaled back on, knowing that help is easily accessible.”

Philips Lifeline is redefining the PERS category and changing the way people think about aging. GoSafe provides a number of advantages, including:

• Widely adopted AutoAlert fall detection capabilities that can automatically detect a fall and place a call for help if it detects a fall and the user is unable to push the GoSafe button
• Two-way cellular voice communication
• Use of up to seven user-locating technologies designed to help identify the user’s location in a variety of situations
• A single, attractive, easy to wear, waterproof button. The button is all the user needs to access help while at home or on the go
• A power-efficient design that allows up to seven days between charges, and a senior-friendly charging cradle that allows the GoSafe help button to be worn even while charging
• System pairing with an in-home communicator to maximize performance, redundancy and reliability
• Offered by Philips Lifeline, an FDA registered medical device manufacturer
Similar to the existing Philips Lifeline service, users wear the GoSafe button around their neck as a pendant at all times, both inside and outside the home. In the event of an emergency the user can push the button to initiate a call for help to the Lifeline Response Center or, if a fall is detected, the AutoAlert feature can automatically place a call to the Lifeline Response Center without the need of the user pushing the button.

“Caregivers often worry about their parents leaving their homes as they age,” Goudswaard said. “GoSafe will give caregivers peace of mind and help them worry less about their loved ones staying safe during everyday activities; and seniors the courage to continue to live their lives independently.” For more information visit www.philipslifelinegosafe.com.